Meta-analysis of the effects of CPAP therapy on estimated glomerular filtration rate in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease and may lead to a loss of kidney function. However, it remains unclear whether or not continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment improves the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with OSA. This meta-analysis was designed to investigate the effect of CPAP therapy on eGFR in patients with OSA.

Methods: We searched the electronic databases Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase through June 1, 2022. Information about patients, CPAP duration, gender distribution, pre- and post-CPAP treatment eGFR, and age of patients were collected for further analysis. We applied the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95%confidence interval (CI) to analyze the pooled effects. Both Stata 12.0 software and Review Manager 5.2 software were employed for all statistical analyses.

Results: A sample of 13 studies with 519 patients was included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant change of eGFR levels before and after CPAP usage for patients with OSA (SMD = - 0.05, 95%CI: - 0.30 to 0.19, Z = 0.43, p = 0.67). However, subgroup analysis revealed that the level of eGFR was obviously decreased after CPAP therapy in patients with OSA and CPAP use duration > 6 months (SMD = - 0.30, 95% CI = - 0.49 to - 0.12, z = 3.20, p = 0.001), and elderly patients (> 60 years) (SMD = - 0.32, 95% CI = - 0.52 to - 0.11, z = 3.02, p = 0.002).

Conclusions: Meta-analysis confirmed that OSA treatment with CPAP has no clinically significant effect on eGFR.

Keywords: Continuous positive airway pressure; Estimated glomerular filtration rate; Meta‑analysis; Obstructive sleep apnea.